#Some of them may require knowing what an internet browser is

[culturalcicada]

Adding lyrics to what does what?! I thought putting your music on streaming platforms was supposed to leave you with more money and not less?

I don't blame people for staying in abusive relationships, especially if they have a financial need to do so, so I don't blame artists for using Stotify either. But I need them to at least consider the alternatives.

Bandcamp, for one thing, may be owned by a big corporation nowadays but it was originally designed by human beings and it shows. And if you just wanna promote your stuff, such as by sharing lyrics, you have a million additional options.

small musicians who don't post their lyrics online anywhere. Why do you hate me

[rivkae-winters]

Edit: the app launched and Is down- I have the initial apology video in a post here and I’m working on getting a full archive of their TikTok up ASAP. I’m letting the rest of this post remain since I do still stand by most of it and also don’t like altering things already in circulation.

Warning for criticism and what I’d consider some harsh to outright mean words:

So I’ve just been made aware of the project known of as ‘lore.fm’ and I’m not a fan for multiple reasons. For one this ‘accessibility’ tool complicates the process of essentially just using a screen reader (something native to all I phones specifically because this is a proposed IOS app) in utterly needless and inaccessible ways. From what I have been seeing on Reddit they have been shielding themselves (or fans of the project have been defending them) with this claim of being an accessibility tool as well to which is infuriating for so many reasons.

I plan to make a longer post explaining why this is a terrible idea later but I’ll keep it short for tonight with my main three criticisms and a few extras:

1. Your service requires people to copy a url for a fic then open your app then paste it into your app and click a button then wait for your audio to be prepared to use. This is needlessly complicating a process that exists on IOS already and can be done IN BROWSER using an overlay that you can fully control the placement of.

2. This is potentially killing your own fandom if it catches on with the proposed target market of xreader smut enjoyers because of only needing the link as mentioned above. You don’t have to open a fic to get a link this the author may potentially not even get any hits much less any other feedback. At least when you download a pdf you leave a hit: the download button is on the page with the fic for a reason. Fandom is a self sustaining eco system and many authors get discouraged and post less/even stop writing all together if they get low interaction.

3. Maybe we shouldn’t put something marketed as turning smut fanfic into audio books on the IOS App Store right now. Maybe with KOSA that’s a bad idea? Just maybe? Sarcasm aside we could see fan fiction be under even more legal threat if minors use this to listen to the content we know they all consume via sites like ao3 (even if we ask them not to) and are caught with it. Auditory content has historically been considered much more obscene/inappropriate than written content: this is a recipe for a disaster and more internet regulations we are trying to avoid.

I also have many issues with the fact that this is obviously redistributing fanfiction (thus violating the copyright we hold over our words and our plots) and removing control the author should have over their content and digital footprint. Then there is the fact that even though the creator on TikTok SAYS you can email to have your fic ‘excluded’ based on the way the demo works (pasting a link) I’m gonna assume that’s just to cover her ass/is utter bullshit. I know that’s harsh but if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck it’s probably a duck.

I am all for women in stem- I’ve BEEN a woman in Stem- but this is not a cool girl boss moment. This is someone naive enough to think this will go over well at best or many other things (security risks especially) at worst.

In conclusion for tonight: I hope this person is a troll but there is enough hype and enough paid for web domains that I don’t think that’s the case. There are a litany of reasons every fanfic reader and writer should be against something like this existing and I’ll outline them all in several other posts later.

Do not email their opt out email address there is no saying what is actually happening with that data and it is simply not worth the risks it could bring up. I hate treating seemingly well meaning people like potential cyber criminals but I’ve seen enough shit by now that it’s better to be safe than sorry. You’re much safer just locking all your fics to account only. I haven’t yet but I may in the future if that is the only option.

If anyone wants a screen reader tutorial and a walk through of my free favorites as well as the native IOS screen reader I can post that later as well. Sorry for the heavy content I know it’s not my normal fare.

[rigelmejo]

Some learning apps I've liked (in no patrticular order)

Renshuu (japanese): good lessons, a bit slow paced for me

Readibu (chinese reading app): free version is good, paid version includes full sentence audio and translations I think which may be useful.

Pleco (chinese dictionary and reader app): top level app, get it now if you study chinese and use your phone at all. Its free version includes a huge great dictionary, and Clipboard Reader which has ALL the Reader features just that you have to copy and paste the chinese text in (their paid Reader you can upload epub txt files etc directly). Their paid features are nice because they are all 1 time fees: pay 5 dollars once and have the purchased item forever. I hate subscriptions so i love that this app does single purchase instead. I bought some graded readers on this, and expanded dictionaries. Its Dictate Text text to speech feature is nice in the Reader/Clipboard reader because it highlights the word as it reads and shows translation, making it easy to follow along.

Duoreader: a free basic app, has a few parallel language books for many languuages. It includes text to speech audio and click word translation. Excellent for free reading with parallel text set up.

Smart Book by Kursx (also under the name Parallel Translation of books by kursx on the app store): it uses mtl, but you can search for books or import books, and it will show sentence translations or make an entire parallel text for you, it also has click translations, word saving, progress information (which is motivating to me), and text to speech read aloud function. Its currently what i use the most for reading. Trahslations are as good as Lingq or Google Translate so NOT always reliable but useable and the sentence translation helps for figuring out grammar. But Pleco and Readibu have BETTER translations. For chinese this app is good, for japanese its useable if youre upper beginner but if you dont know basic grammar and particles then the japanese individual word translations are often wrong and unreliable - sentence long translations are useable though.

Tofugu: good hanzi study app.

Anki: great app especially if you import decks made by people around the internet. I look up decks by going to a search engine and typing in something like "4000 hanzi mnemonics anki deck" or "common chinese words in sentences anki deck." I have recommended some anki decks I've used on this blog. A tip about anki: their website works fine in mobile browsers, you do not have to pay for any app to use anki on your phone, you can just use the site if you'd prefer. For initial uploads of flashcard decks created by other users, you will need to install anki on a computer, then download the anki deck from the deck's page online, then put it into your computer anki program. After you do that, you can sync your computer anki to the website one. Then you can use anki either online or on the computer or on both. I use anki only on my phone mobile browser. It seems the main benefit of anki phone apps over using the internet mobile browser, is flashcards are easier to Make if you end up wanting to make your own anki flashcards on your phone.

Immersive Chinese: chinese lessons. I haven't used it much but I like the structure

Glossika: I specifically recommend getting the old cds, possibly through your library, or finding the mp3 files online. I think the audio files are easier if youre not good at focusing on consistently doing SRS flashcards, since spaced repetition study sentences are the new glossika model and require a monthly subscription. Plus side to the new model: most languages have around 6000 sentences where the old cd courses often had around 3000 sentences. Plus side to the old cds/mp3s: can be found in many libraries for free, and online, and if you do buy them theyre a one time cost. Excellent resource if you like audio review (i do), with common grammar and vocabulary taught. I like that even the 3000 word old courses will get you at least to upper beginner or lower intermediate, enough knowledge to start learning by reading or watching shows and looking words up, and enough words to have some conversations. Pimsleur is similar but tends to cover less vocabulary, so afterward you need to learn more words on your own before you can immerse and look up words to study.

Japaneseaudiolessons.com: a website with free japanese audio lessons, a free textbook, free notes. They also have nice kanji learning books with pre written mnemonics and sentence examples for sale.

Your local library: a lot of libraries have deals with language learning sites/apps, your specific library may provide some courses for free. In addition, apps Hoopla and Libby have a lot of courses and digital textbooks and audios you can check out. You can use those apps with a library card. If you are a college student, a lot of college ebook collections include MANY textbooks and independent study books for languages. Nearly every Tuttle book I got for studying Japanese and Chinese, I was able to check out the ebook version first using my college library and only bought those books because I ended up finding them so useful I wanted print copies. (For that matter, some under $20 dollar reference books I owe for teaching me hanzi and kanji: Tuttle Learning Chinese Characters: HSK Levels 1-3 - this book gave me a foundation in hanzi and was the easiest guide for learning hanzi for me and learning HOW to remember them. I found it more useful than Heisig's Remember the Kanji/Hanzi books by far, although they utilize a similat idea, and less effort to remember than Kodansha Kanji Learner's Guide - although I like that reference book as a reference. Runner up is Tuttle Learn Japanese Today: The Easy Way to Learn 400 Practical Kanji by Len Walsh. It was more basic than the hanzi book, less in depth, but a very approachable understandable and quick to learn kanji book to start out with when studying Japanese, that will not overwhelm you the way say Heisig or KKLG might. For hanzi I used my Learning Chinese Characters book for a few months, then an anki deck "hanzi 2000 mnemonics pinyin" while also just regularly looking up new words while reading graded readers then chinese show subtitles then webnovels, and making up my own mnemonics which got easier over time. For japanese, I followed up with a vocabulary deck as I found vocabulary easier to remember than isolated kanji, and kanji.koohi.com was a useful site for free user submitted mnemonics to remember kanji when I struggled to remember. Its also a good site for free flashcards and study of kanji generally.

ChinesePronunciationTrainer: a really simple free app. It's biggest usefulness is practicing pronunciation. You can record yourself trying to pronounce a sentence after hearing the chinese pronunciation, then play back your recorded attempt compared to the chinese pronunciation. The app makes shadowing easier to evaluate, so you can compare and notice if you're making pronunciation errors and work on them. It's also very simple low feature speaking practice.

LingoTube: free app, uses machine translation. If you want to watch youtube with dual subtitles, or click translations on subtitles, or instant replay/loop of dialogue lines, this is an app that can do that. Very useful for immersing with youtube videos like youtubers and shows on youtube.

Idiom app: it is orange with an i on the icon. Click skip for the "helm" offer when you first download it, helm is a paid add on for better translations and you may not want it right away. The core app is free (helm add on costs a subscription). This app is basically Lingq but free. Translation quality is the same, which appears to be google translate quality on Lingq and Idiom. So some errors, but useable especially as you hit upper beginner and above and can notice when you may want to reference a word in an external dictionary (like Pleco app for chinese, yomiwa app for japanese, etc).

Satori Reader: a graded reader app for japanese, absolutely amazing quality material. I recommend exploring the free content on the app. If you decide you'll use it a lot, or plan to get into a reading kick for a few months, it's worth getting a subscription for a while. I plan to get a subscription once I have the time to read japanese 1-2 hours a day for a few months. Satori Reader has tons of reading materials branching from approachable to an upper beginner (say you can read Yostuba manga a bit, or are in Genki 2, or know around 2000 words) to you're almost ready to read webnovels or regular japanese novels but the difficulty bump is just a Touch too steep. If you go through the various reading level material on the app, you shpuld be prepared to handle at least some japanese novels for natives once you can handle some of the higher reading level stuff on Satori Reader. In addition: the translations are done by professional translators with in depth notes on grammar points (incredibly useful and the best explanations on Japanese Graded Readers Ive used), fully narrated stories by real people, and many of the graded readers are designed to be enjoyable long reading material in their own right. There's also some multiple difficulty versions of reading material if you'd like to read an easier version before trying a more complex version of the same story. There is so much reading material on the app you can get significant practice and vocabulary/grammar improvement if you have time to read. I lnow a few people who got through a few hundred+ chapters on this app, and generally they went from N4 or N3 reading level to N2 or N1. Then they transitioned to reading novels for natives. As far as high quality well made well explained plentiful graded reading material for japanese, this is one of the best resources I've found. (The other 2 great graded readers I have are textbooks, one being a Tuttle Read Japanese book that goes from basics through to being able to read 2000 kanji, newspapers and documents, formal and informal, and is dry af to read but generally leaves you fairly prepared for japanese reading, and a more basic Beginning Japanese Reading book thats part of a 4 part textbook collection and absolutely drills the basic 500 most common kanji and many words, hiragana and katakana and many words in them, for 500 or so pages).

Microsoft Edge. I know, weird. Edge on computer and mobile internet browser has a Read Aloud tool. It is the best sounding text to speech Ive heard. This Read Aloud tool is also in Microsoft Word if you copy paste text into Word. I find going to sites in my target language, and using the Read Aloud tool, is a nice way to get audio in with my reading when I can't find an audiobook. The tool also highlights the word as it reads, helping you keep up with the reading, and for me it helps improve my reading speed. In addition, ANY web browser (and any phone/tablet Reader app like Kindle, Moonreader, Kybooks etc.) often has the ability to click or tap or highlight a word to look up the translation. So when reading on any of those internet browsers/Readers, you can look up words just like you would on Lingq but free.

Japanese.io: a site with japanese graded reading material, and tools like click translation and saving words.

https://www.sosekiproject.org/about.html If you like the author Soseki, this site is awesome. It features full audio of his works, full parallel text translation, and individual word translation.

[majakovskiy]

BROWSERS, ADBLOCKERS AND OTHER ADDONS

tl;dr: Use LibreWolf and install CleanURLs, or if not, use uBlock Origin and CleanURLs on whatever browser you use.Librewolf : https://librewolf.net/uBlock Origin : https://ublockorigin.com/CleanURLs : https://github.com/ClearURLs/Addon

BROWSERS:

I will not start an argument about the necessity of privacy respecting browsers, I assume if you're reading this rambling of mine about the subject you're at least partially interested in not leaking all your data to the internet. Most browsers you'll encounter are leaky, and they will give your data to 3rd parties, either by poor design or implementation or knowingly and happily for money, but some browsers are just more leaky than others, so your choice of browser matters. 

Apart from the ethical issues that uncontrollable data selling raises, online ads, tracking cookies and these tracking methods lead to a slower internet, higher processor and memory requirements, a messy design of webpages, and a plethora of other security issues and opportunities for bad actors ("hackers"). The sheer number of so-called attack vectors that web browsing presents is astounding. 

Just to give a brief image of it, visit the site https://privacytests.org/, it will show you a comparison of web browsers on their performance of not leaking stuff to other people. The different tests are performed daily, and the website is rather informative about these tracking methods, attack vectors. Some part may be less important to you (Tor capabilities for example), so not all privacy respecting features are created equal, but this is the closest you'll ever get to an open and easily digestable learning material on browser privacy.

At the time of writing the best option for daily use is LibreWolf, basically a fine-tuned Firefox. It also has a lot of features for advanced users, but is generally easy to use, with built in uBlock Origin, and javascript disabled (which you may want to enable for certain web pages).You may want to know that certain browsers are tracking your movement and build a profile on you without ever visiting any webpage, and this category includes Firefox, and Chromium as well.

ADBLOCKERS:

Most adblockers have long sold their souls to the devil, and they are the ones collecting data on you, and some of them are purposefully not blocking certain ads, go figure. A lot of them are not open source, or not even open on their business pactices. You wouldn't hire a security company to protect your business who has a sketchy and non-transparent working, and who you cannot verify that they are not accepting money from the Chinese Communist Party, would you? The easy answer is to use uBlock Origin, an open source, transparent, free as in freedom software, with a completely transparent working, and verifiable everything. Please note that uBlock and uBlock Origin are not the same adblocker, and the regular uBlock has been bought by - guess what - an advertising company. 

CleanURLs: Sometimes when you receive a youtube link, and you click on in, instead of youtube.com/watch?=xxxxxxx you'll get a ten times longer link with fbclid and really long alphanumerical stuff, isn't it weird? Does this link need to be this long to function? Well, the answer is no. It's just one of the tricks how websites track you with even more unnecessary cookies, that try to follow you from site A to site B (for example to figure out which youtube account belongs to which facebook user to make even more targeted ads). You can manually delete all those cross-site tracking stuff from every link you use but it's a tedious, but easily automated task. That's where CleanURLs come in, to do this instead of you. You'll be surprised how many tracking attempts are blocked in a day by this stuff.May these tools bring you a faster and cleaner internet experience.

[ktarsims]

K’tar reverts to 1.67: Some notes...

So in the wake of EA forcing everyone to update from the Origin App to the EA App, which sporadically seems to cause even more problems than the Origin App for many TS3 players, I decided it was finally time to take the plunge and stop playing on 1.69. Below the cut, What I did, how I did it, issues and questions I ran into, and some notes.

First, I started off using this tutorial here: https://sims3tutorialhub.tumblr.com/post/176328544696/installing-sims-via-torrent Simply using the NoCD mod would not have worked for me, as I only own a few of the TS3 expansions and stuff packs via disc, and own most of them digitally. By the time I realized this might be an issue for me later, I already owned them all, and I don’t believe in paying for an entire franchise a second time just because game companies like EA will bleed you dry if they can.

Question #1: Do I need to uninstall first? After backing up the EA folder in my docs folder and the everything in the program files folder as well, per the suggestion in the above tutorial, and having already downloaded all the needed files, this was the first question that popped up for me. I don’t actually know the answer, but I decided that since my current installation was in Origin, which I hope not to use again (at least for TS3), I would uninstall everything from Origin, so I did so.

After that, I abandoned the above tutorial and instead followed the instructions that came with the downloaded files. They’re fairly concise and easy to follow. I went back and checked eventually and they’re basically the same as the ones in the above tutorial, except you’ve no need for further downloads, because everything is already included in what you’ve downloaded. If you are following the above tutorial to download the 1.67 super patch, be aware that you may have to copy and paste the link into a new browser tab to get the download to work. (I did.) This took me to having completed step 7 in the above tutorial.

Next, a step that isn’t mentioned in the tutorial, or the instructions in the download. Copy over your GraphicsCards.sgr and GraphicsRules.sgr from your old Program Files x86/.../Bin folder to your new one. This way your game will still recognize your graphics card and any changes you previously made to the graphics rules will remain.

Then I installed the proper version of @lazyduchess ’s Smooth patch into the same Bin folder. Thanks again for making it work with 1.67!  I had a bit of trouble editing the TS3Patch.txt file, because the Bin folder properties had been set such that it wouldn’t let me edit the file directly. I ended up creating a copy of the file on my desktop, editing that, deleting the one in the Bin folder, and then moved the edited file into the Bin folder and gave the admin permission confirmation required.

As a last step, I installed the Nraas No CD mod to my mods/packages folder with the rest of my nraas mods and discovered that all of my game folders were still present, complete with logs, saved games, mods, everything. I wasn’t expecting that, as I thought everything would have been deleted when I uninstalled things, but nope. Everything was present and accounted for and I didn’t need to retrieve anything from the backup I’d made of that folder.

My game started up just fine. Nothing was missing, all mods seem to be working fine and are present. The game seems to take just a tad longer to start up than what I’ve been used to lately, but it’s like... maybe an extra minute, which is completely worth no longer having to deal with Origin and/or whatever online DRM crap EA may come up with in the future. Now I can play... with NO INTERNET. FREEDOM! My graphics were perfect, I didn’t need to adjust any settings at all, and everything was good to go.

Edit to add: If you’ve only ever played on 1.69, be aware that 1.67 does not have a built-in easy way to enable/disable expansions and stuff packs. However, someone shared with me this link to a mod that someone created to do precisely that! You can find it here: https://modthesims.info/d/499140/sim-game-selector-3-0-support-for-quot-into-the-future-quot-and-quot-movie-stuff-quot.html 

Of course, your experience may vary... I’m running on a desktop computer with Windows 10, with all expansions and stuff packs installed, nearly 25k individual pieces of CC installed via CCMagic, plus a couple hundred other un-merged script mods and default replacement files installed in my Mods/Packages folder. (In case that helps at all.)

Cheers! I’m off to play my game!

[cyberwebnic]

What Is Phishing?

What Is Phishing?

Phishing is a cybercrime in which a target or targets are contacted by email, telephone or text message by someone posing as a legitimate institution to lure individuals into providing sensitive data such as personally identifiable information, banking and credit card details, and passwords.

The information is then used to access important accounts and can result in identity theft and financial loss.

The first phishing lawsuit was filed in 2004 against a Californian teenager who created the imitation of the website “America Online”. With this fake website, he was able to gain sensitive information from users and access the credit card details to withdraw money from their accounts. Other than email and website phishing, there’s also ‘vishing’ (voice phishing), ‘smishing’ (SMS Phishing) and several other phishing techniques cybercriminals are constantly coming up with.

Common Features of Phishing Emails

Too Good To Be True – Lucrative offers and eye-catching or attention-grabbing statements are designed to attract people’s attention immediately. For instance, many claim that you have won an iPhone, a lottery, or some other lavish prize. Just don’t click on any suspicious emails. Remember that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is!

Sense of Urgency – A favorite tactic amongst cybercriminals is to ask you to act fast because the super deals are only for a limited time. Some of them will even tell you that you have only a few minutes to respond. When you come across these kinds of emails, it’s best to just ignore them. Sometimes, they will tell you that your account will be suspended unless you update your personal details immediately. Most reliable organizations give ample time before they terminate an account and they never ask patrons to update personal details over the Internet. When in doubt, visit the source directly rather than clicking a link in an email.

Hyperlinks – A link may not be all it appears to be. Hovering over a link shows you the actual URL where you will be directed upon clicking on it. It could be completely different or it could be a popular website with a misspelling, for instance www.bankofarnerica.com – the ‘m’ is actually an ‘r’ and an ‘n’, so look carefully.

Attachments – If you see an attachment in an email you weren’t expecting or that doesn’t make sense, don’t open it! They often contain payloads like ransomware or other viruses. The only file type that is always safe to click on is a .txt file.

Unusual Sender – Whether it looks like it’s from someone you don’t know or someone you do know, if anything seems out of the ordinary, unexpected, out of character or just suspicious in general don’t click on it!

Here is a great KnowBe4 resource that outlines 22 social engineering red flags commonly seen in phishing emails. We recommend printing out this PDF to pass along to family, friends, and coworkers.

Click To View Larger

Prevent Phishing Attacks:

Though hackers are constantly coming up with new techniques, there are some things that  you can do to protect yourself and your organization:

To protect against spam mails, spam filters can be used. Generally, the filters assess the origin of the message, the software used to send the message, and the appearance of the message to determine if it’s spam. Occasionally, spam filters may even block emails from legitimate sources, so it isn’t always 100% accurate.

The browser settings should be changed to prevent fraudulent websites from opening. Browsers keep a list of fake websites and when you try to access the website, the address is blocked or an alert message is shown. The settings of the browser should only allow reliable websites to open up.

Many websites require users to enter login information while the user image is displayed. This type of system may be open to security attacks. One way to ensure security is to change passwords on a regular basis, and never use the same password for multiple accounts. It’s also a good idea for websites to use a CAPTCHA system for added security.

Banks and financial organizations use monitoring systems to prevent phishing. Individuals can report phishing to industry groups where legal actions can be taken against these fraudulent websites. Organizations should provide security awareness training to employees to recognize the risks.

Changes in browsing habits are required to prevent phishing. If verification is required, always contact the company personally before entering any details online.

If there is a link in an email, hover over the URL first. Secure websites with a valid Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate begin with “https”. Eventually all sites will be required to have a valid SSL.

Generally, emails sent by a cybercriminals are masked so they appear to be sent by a business whose services are used by the recipient. A bank will not ask for personal information via email or suspend your account if you do not update your personal details within a certain period of time. Most banks and financial institutions also usually provide an account number or other personal details within the email, which ensures it’s coming from a reliable source.

Free Phishing Security Test

Would your users fall for convincing phishing attacks? Take the first step now and find out before bad actors do. Plus, see how you stack up against your peers with phishing Industry Benchmarks. The Phish-prone percentage is usually higher than you expect and is great ammo to get budget.

Here’s how it works:

Immediately start your test for up to 100 users (no need to talk to anyone)

Select from 20+ languages and customize the phishing test template based on your environment

Choose the landing page your users see after they click

Show users which red flags they missed, or a 404 page

Get a PDF emailed to you in 24 hours with your Phish-prone % and charts to share with management

See how your organization compares to others in your industry

Go Phishing Now!

PS: Don’t like to click on redirected buttons? Cut & Paste this link in your browser:

[prathammahajan]

Dark Web: Understanding the Hidden Internet

The term "dark web" often conjures images of hidden marketplaces and illegal activities. However, the reality is much more nuanced. The dark web is a part of the internet that isn’t indexed by traditional search engines like Google or Bing. It’s an encrypted space requiring specialized software, and while it does house some illicit activities, it also serves legitimate purposes like preserving privacy for journalists, activists, and everyday citizens. In this article, we explore what the dark web is, how to access it, and the essential safety measures to consider when navigating this shadowy part of the internet.

What is the Dark Web?

The dark web is a subset of the "deep web," which refers to areas of the internet not indexed by traditional search engines. While the deep web includes benign sites like medical databases and financial portals, the dark web exists on encrypted networks, primarily accessed through the Tor network. Websites on the dark web often require specific URLs that are not easy to find or stumble upon.

Contrary to popular belief, the dark web isn’t entirely illegal. It’s a haven for whistleblowers, privacy advocates, and people living under oppressive regimes who need to communicate without censorship. However, it’s also where illegal activities such as drug trafficking, weapons sales, and data breaches occur.

How the Dark Web Works

Tor Network

The most common way to access the dark web is through the Tor network. The Tor Browser routes users' internet traffic through a series of volunteer-operated servers or nodes, encrypting the data multiple times along the way. This routing process makes it extremely difficult to trace the user’s original IP address, thus providing anonymity.

Accessing Dark Web Sites

Dark web sites are not like traditional websites. They typically use .onion domains, which aren’t linked to regular domain names and don’t appear in conventional search results. Users often need to know specific, complex URLs shared through private forums or communities to access these sites. These sites prioritize anonymity over aesthetics and functionality, with many resembling early versions of the web with basic text interfaces and minimal multimedia content.

Common Uses of the Dark Web

Illicit Marketplaces

A notorious aspect of the dark web is the existence of illicit marketplaces where users can buy and sell illegal goods and services, such as drugs, counterfeit items, and stolen data. These markets often operate similarly to e-commerce websites, complete with product listings, reviews, and vendor ratings, but lack legal oversight.

Whistleblower Platforms

Some platforms on the dark web provide a safe and anonymous environment for whistleblowers to share sensitive information. Journalists and activists also use these platforms to communicate securely, especially in countries where internet activity is heavily monitored and censored.

Forums and Communities

The dark web hosts forums where people can discuss various topics, including politics, technology, and privacy issues. These communities often emphasize free speech and the ability to communicate anonymously, making them appealing to users seeking uncensored conversations.

Information and Resources

Beyond illegal activities, the dark web also offers access to information that may not be readily available on the surface web, such as sensitive documents, political dissent, and materials subject to censorship in certain regions.

Risks and Concerns

Legal Implications

While accessing the dark web in itself is not illegal, engaging in activities like buying illicit goods or participating in illegal transactions can have serious legal consequences. Law enforcement agencies actively monitor the dark web, and many users have been caught and prosecuted for participating in illegal activities.

Cybersecurity Threats

One of the biggest risks associated with the dark web is exposure to cybersecurity threats. Dark web users may encounter malware, phishing attempts, and other forms of cybercrime. Malware can infect devices via downloads or through malicious links, potentially leading to data theft or ransomware attacks.

Scams and Fraud

Dark web marketplaces are rife with scams. Since there’s no legal recourse, if a transaction goes wrong—whether the product doesn’t arrive or is counterfeit—users have little to no way of recovering their money or addressing disputes.

How to Access the Dark Web Safely

While accessing the dark web requires some technical know-how, it’s crucial to take steps to ensure safety and privacy. Here’s a guide:

1. Download the Tor Browser

To safely navigate the dark web, users must download the Tor Browser, which is designed to anonymize your internet connection by routing traffic through multiple servers.

Download from the Official Source: Always download Tor from the official Tor Project website to avoid malware.

2. Install and Connect

Once installed, simply follow the installation instructions and launch the browser. You will be prompted to connect to the Tor Network, which may take a few moments.

3. Navigating .onion Sites

After connecting, users can begin accessing .onion websites. Since these sites are not indexed by regular search engines, users often rely on forums or directories like “The Hidden Wiki” to find valid links.

What Does the Dark Web Look Like?

The dark web has a vastly different appearance and structure compared to the surface web. It is designed to prioritize functionality, privacy, and security over visual appeal.

Minimalistic Aesthetic

Many dark web sites use basic HTML coding and employ a minimalist design. This often results in a barebones appearance with simple text, a single-column layout, and limited visual content. This aesthetic ensures faster load times and limits the site’s footprint, helping maintain user anonymity.

Navigation Structure

Unlike the surface web, which offers complex navigation menus and robust search functionalities, the dark web relies heavily on hyperlinks. Users will often find lists of links leading to other resources or pages. There are no standard search engines for the dark web, and users must manually seek out directories to find specific sites.

Varied Content

The dark web hosts a wide range of content, from illegal marketplaces to forums advocating free speech and privacy. Some platforms mimic traditional e-commerce models, while others provide avenues for anonymous communication and whistleblowing.

Security Features on the Dark Web

Encryption Protocols

To maintain anonymity, dark web sites typically use strong encryption protocols. Many platforms utilize end-to-end encryption, ensuring that only the users involved in a conversation can access the content.

Security Warnings

Dark web sites often display security warnings, advising users to be cautious about sharing personal information and to avoid engaging in risky behavior, such as downloading unknown files.

Risks of Accessing the Dark Web

Accessing the dark web comes with inherent risks, even if you aren’t participating in illegal activities.

Exposure to Illicit Content

While there are legitimate uses for the dark web, it’s easy to stumble upon illegal content. Engaging with these sites, even unintentionally, could lead to legal trouble.

Malware and Cyber Threats

Many dark web sites are laden with malware or phishing traps. Users should avoid downloading files or visiting untrusted links, as this can expose them to cyberattacks.

Anonymity Risks

The Tor network is not foolproof. While it provides a level of anonymity, users who log into personal accounts or share identifiable information can still be traced. Additionally, exit node vulnerabilities in the Tor network could potentially expose user traffic to surveillance.

While the dark web offers a glimpse into a hidden, encrypted world of both legal and illegal activities, users must approach it with caution. By understanding how the dark web works, the tools required to access it, and the risks involved, individuals can make more informed decisions about their digital privacy and security. Whether you’re a journalist seeking a safe space to communicate or a curious user, the dark web is a powerful tool that demands careful, responsible use.

Read Full Article on Prats Works

[mediatechgroup]

How to Improve Site Performance

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As a small business owner, having a slow website is like trying to win a race wearing heavy boots. It doesn't just disappoint your visitors; it can also lower your search rankings. The bright side is, boosting your site's performance isn’t too complicated. With a few changes, you can transform your website into a speedy internet powerhouse.

Why Site Speed Matters

You might wonder why there's so much talk about site speed. In today’s fast-paced world, people have little patience for slow-loading websites. If your site takes too long to load, visitors might exit faster than you can blink. A faster site means people are more likely to stay longer, engage, and even become loyal customers.

Steps to Improve Your Site Performance

Let’s explore some steps you can take to boost site performance. Regardless of whether you're a tech whiz or just getting started, these tips are sure to help.

1. Optimize Images

Images can secretly drag down your site’s speed. Ensure your images are optimized to keep things quick. Tools like TinyPNG or ImageOptim can shrink images without making them look fuzzy. Remember, pictures should wow your audience, not slow them down!

2. Enable Browser Caching

When visitors access your site, their browser saves some resources locally. This makes your site load faster on their next visit. Activate browser caching to speed up your site for returning visitors. It's like turning your website into a quick sprinter.

3. Minimize HTTP Requests

Every part of your web page, like images or scripts, makes an HTTP request. Fewer requests mean a faster site. Combine CSS files, cut down on unnecessary plugins, and keep only what’s needed to reduce these requests. Remember, sometimes less is more!

Advanced Techniques for Improving Site Performance

If you’re ready to move beyond the basics, here are some advanced tricks that might require a bit more technical know-how. Luckily, Media & Technology Group, LLC offers consulting to help you apply these techniques:

1. Deploy a Content Delivery Network (CDN)

A Content Delivery Network, or CDN, has servers worldwide that store copies of your site. This way, visitors get data from the closest server, resulting in quicker website performance. A CDN is like a speedy highway just for your website.

2. Leverage Browser Compression

Using Gzip to compress your website can greatly reduce the size of your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Think of it as putting your files on a diet, making them faster to load and improving site performance significantly.

3. Optimize Your Website's Code

Cleaning up your site’s code may seem tough, but simplifying it and using asynchronous loading for scripts can boost speed. Media & Technology Group, LLC's software development expertise can help make this process easy for you.

Conclusion

Your website represents your business online. Keeping it fast makes visitors happy and improves your SEO. With these tips, you can enhance site performance and keep your visitors coming back with a smile. Remember, Media & Technology Group, LLC is here to help you with all your media and tech solutions. Happy optimizing!

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[dollar2host]

Website Monitoring Tools for 2024: Uptime, SEO, and Health

The market for website monitoring tools is growing on an annual basis, and choosing the right solution can be a challenging endeavor, depending on the specific needs of the business. By following this guidance, you will be able to select a tool that will assist you in maintaining the functioning of your website and preserving its integrity. When it comes to monitoring the performance and availability of your website, you have access to a wide variety of various tools.

Website monitoring: What is it?

Website tracking involves examining a website or web service for uptime, health, and SEO purposes. There are various ways to do this. It may be called "web monitoring." Website migration checklists are task-based website tracking lists. It also ensures the website operates and is ready for users. Website visitors believe pages should load in three seconds or fewer. If it doesn't, return rates will rise, and people will leave broken websites.

What does a website monitoring service do?

The monitoring of a website is a vital step in ensuring that the website is always functioning in the correct manner. This improves the user experience as well as the rankings of the website in search engines by evaluating the speed and health of the website. It does this in order to uncover problems at an earlier stage. If you use the right monitoring gadget, it will be much simpler to identify issues before they have an effect on the users.

This is something that is important for all websites, from little blogs to huge e-commerce websites, in order to preserve dependability and function well online. It is something that is essential for doing so. If you want to have a successful presence on the internet, it is essential to have website monitoring tools because they are essential for preserving the health of your website.

What Website Monitoring Tools Are Available?

In the next part, we will talk about the different types of accessible website monitoring measures.

Performance Monitoring

Performance monitoring measures website or service speed. Specific performance monitors are deployed to monitor browser loading and connection rates on the front and back ends of the system. RUM (Real User Monitoring) or synthetic monitoring can be used for performance monitors.

Performance data from the RUM and Full-Page Check are the most comprehensive. The Full-Page Check displays the results of all page elements and provides performance metrics. The Webalizer in cPanel simplifies statistics viewing. Performance monitors alert personnel to internal page errors, missing material, and delayed processing.

Uptime monitoring

There are many uptime monitoring solutions available to track website availability, and you can analyze server-hosted websites' performance with them. If storage space is low, increase it and improve its functionality. Additionally, the domain speed is checked during this procedure.

Functionality Monitoring

To check how well a website works, people use web application monitors or transaction monitors. Script files let a certain type of monitor fill out forms, search websites, use shopping carts, and make payments. People who check transactions often set strict happy paths for how jobs should be done when they look at an online application.

This is done the same way everyone else does it. It will let support staff know if something goes wrong or if performance isn't up to par. People might not be able to use a web app if it has a lot of bugs. You can tell if it has bugs by checking how fast and often it works.

Best Uptime Monitoring Tools

Uptimia

Uptimia is an online monitoring tool that is an all-in-one solution that covers everything that you would require to monitor your website. It is a monitoring tool that is available online. Some of the features that are included in its broad selection of offers are uptime, speed, SSL certificate, domain expiration, transaction monitoring, and real user tracking. These are just a few of the many features that are featured.

The fact that Uptimia may be seamlessly integrated with a wide range of other apps is one of the factors that contribute to its enhancement in usefulness. In addition, it provides public status pages for complete transparency. A notification will be sent to you in the event that a website encounters any kind of problem or goes down.

StatusCake

StatusCake has powerful tools for website monitoring. These tools give you tips in real-time and a lot of diagnostic information to help your website run better. This service includes monitoring for uptime, page speed, site performance, domain, and SSL certificates. These are meant to meet the needs of a wide group of customers, from individuals to large businesses.

It's possible to be proactive about making sure a website is reliable and safe thanks to features like setting custom check rates, analyzing past data, and integrating with many platforms. StatusCake wants to give users peace of mind and make their websites more productive by focusing on solutions that are designed with the user in mind. Some of these options are test locations that can be changed and Google SSO for extra security.

 BetterStack Uptime

BetterStack Uptime built this platform with the features that it can provide high dependability and performance tracking of online services. To reach this goal, it quickly checks for problems, keeps an eye on all services like web, API, and network, and handles complicated incidents by combining different services. It has an attractive status page for users to contact, as well as on-call scheduling, voice alerts, issue escalations, and audit timeframes, all in one easy-to-use package.

Another thing it can do is help audit timelines. Businesses can get extra features like reliable downtime alerts, inspections of multiple locations, and status pages that can be customized through the package. It also comes with Website Monitoring, Incident Management, Status Pages, Log Management, and an Observability Dashboard. These features are meant to help companies get the best performance and availability of their services.

Oh Dear

Oh Dear is a web monitoring service whose main goal is to make sure that websites and apps always work at their best. Search engine optimization (SEO), the health of apps, and the speed of websites are all checked with Lighthouse. It also takes care of DNS records, domain status, SSL certificates, and finding broken websites and issues with mixed material. It also takes care of SSL keys.

All of these tasks are done to make sure that the service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The platform has so many features that it gets rid of the need for many different tracking systems. This makes the platform more cost-effective in managing costs. Oh Dear makes it easier for users to make choices and talk openly with each other about the state of a website by giving them real-time notifications, detailed analytics, and public status pages.

MonSpark

With MonSpark, you can monitor websites and make sure they're always up, safe, and running at their best. It can keep an eye on SSL, ping, DNS, WHOIS, stability, and more. It also has smart alert systems that can send messages by email or Slack. MonSpark makes tracking easier by not needing complicated setups. This is done to cut down on downtime and protect online privacy. This helps both businesses and website administrators run their sites more smoothly and handle their websites better. To protect you better and help your SEO, it also keeps track of changes to sitemaps, open ports, and URLs.

How do you choose the Right Website Performance Monitoring Tools?

When selecting a monitoring tool, it is necessary to take into consideration a number of significant criteria in order to ensure that the tool fits your specific requirements.

Ease of Use:

The application needs to be user-friendly, with a straightforward interface and a straightforward method for setting it up. This will make it possible for you to set up monitoring in a short amount of time without having to go through and overcome a high learning curve.

Features:

Make sure that the application offers all of the necessary monitoring functions, such as monitoring for uptime, performance, and security, respectively. In addition to that, it should also provide a detailed study of the issues that are occurring with the website's technical performance and health.

Reliability

We recommend that you go with a product that has a solid reputation for being reliable and accurate when it comes to reporting and warnings. Because of this, you will be able to rely on the information that it provides to you.

Price

The price should be taken into consideration, and you should make certain that it is within your financial means while still meeting your needs for monitoring. While there are certain programs that offer free plans that cover core capabilities, there are also some tools that offer free plans that could serve as a good starting point.

Integration

The ability to interface with other tools and platforms that you use can help improve your workflow and raise your efficiency. Integration is a competency that you should have.

Customizable

You should seek a tool that offers customizable options, such as alert settings, monitoring intervals, and report types, so that you may tailor the service to your particular requirements. This will allow you to modify the service to meet your individual requirements.

Support

Ensuring that consumers receive outstanding service is of the utmost importance. When conducting your search, you should focus on finding a service provider that offers timely and helpful support through a variety of channels, such as the phone, chat, or email.

Conclusion-

A website tracking tool isn't just a technical choice; it's also about making sure your site stays up and works well for everyone who visits. This is the best place to find the right mix of features, ease of use, and flexibility to meet your needs. The right tool is more than just software; it's your partner in the online world. Problems can be fixed, and the site will always look great. Think about what's important for your site's success and how your tracking tool can help that happen as you make your choice. Don't forget that the goal is for everyone to have a fun and easy trip.

Dollar2host Dollar2host.com We provide expert Webhosting services for your desired needs. Facebook Twitter Instagram YouTube

[techtired]

127.0.0.1:49342 Localhost IP Address Explained: The Ultimate Guide

127.0.0.1 is the typical loopback IP address; accessing this IP connects you to your system, not the Internet. There are a lot of complicated words and terms used in computers. Each one is important and makes a difference. Not every user, nevertheless, is aware of them. One of the typical terms usually shown on a computer screen when working on some programs is 127.0.0.1:49342. Most people are unaware of it, so it seems to be the leading cause of problems. We must first have a fundamental knowledge of IP addresses, sometimes known as internet protocol, to solve this problem. Knowing how it operates will help us to fix this mistake effectively. Below, we have clarified what an IP address is and why it is significant. Keep sliding down the post underneath to find further specifics regarding this 127.0.0.1:49342. What is 127.0.0.1? The loopback address, 127.0.0.1, is a special-purpose IPv4 address. It creates an IP link to the same machine or computer the end-user is running. This lets the computer interact with itself since any network demand issued to 127.0.0.1 is replayed back. Debugging network programs and testing depend on this loopback mechanism. Port 49342: Its Importance In networking, a port is a logical endpoint that designates a particular process or service. Port numbers run from 0 to 65535 and have different uses. Specifically, Port 49342 is private or dynamic. Often used for bespoke or temporary needs, the IANA does not reserve these ports (49152–65535), Internet Assessed Numbers Authority. Benefits of 127.0.0.1:49342 Employing this specific IP address has several benefits, including:  Testing and Development: connection and may test apps without compromising the network or any other system. Making sure the traffic stays within your local machine—that is, the computer—allows no outside access, mitigating possible security hazards. Because communication between the same machine is far faster than any external network, this Loopback address lets the machine operate far faster. It lessens the demand for extra resources, including a network, which improves test performance. Developers can rapidly and effortlessly test modifications and identify environmental problems free from constant network assistance. Applications can operate concurrently on the same machine without issues using the address and several ports, including the 49342. Setting Up The Address These guidelines will help you to arrange the 127.0.0.1:49342 address following: Install any program on your computer, such as Ngnix, Apache, or IIS. This program will enable your machine to serve local web content. Open the configurable options on the selected program and arrange the server to port 49342. Ensure the program has permission to read from and write to the required folders you will have to create where your web will be kept. Restart your program to implement the fresh settings you just changed; next, open a browser and visit your site or application using the address "127.0.0.1:49342" to verify and guarantee everything is operating as intended. You set up the address this way; if necessary, utilize virtualization tools like VirtualBox or Docker to build and oversee virtual environments. Common Problems: Troubleshooting Should you run across any difficulties, Use these troubleshooting guides to correct the IP address setup: Ensure the server settings are mistakes-free, and verify that port 49342 is free. Confirm that the server can access necessary files and that the firewall lets port 49342. Comfin if you did not miss anything and are utilizing the "127.0.0.1:49342". Changes Not Applicable: Researt following your adjustments and search logs for any error notes. Should the pages not be located, confirm whether the files are in the correct location and whether the names exactly match.404 Error Ensure you have enough CPU and memory, and check any logs for fault specifics. The Key Function of Port 49342 Network Resources and Uses Dynamic port 49342 is not linked to any one service or protocol. This adaptability makes it the perfect alternative for system managers and developers needing a port for temporary or custom services. Using a dynamic port such as 49342 helps developers avoid problems with well-known ports set aside for conventional services (e.g., HTTP on port 80 and HTTPS on port 443). Testing and Correcting Problems Debugging and testing constitute one of the main applications of 127.0.0.1:49342. Testing a network application in a controlled environment is crucial when designing one. Developers can replicate network communication without compromising other network activity by tying the application to 127.0.0.1:49342. Before putting the program into use in a production setting, this approach guarantees accurate operation, helps to spot problems, and maximizes performance. Processing Localhost Operations First, you must start setting or installing any currently used server or program on your computer, such as Nlinux, Apache, or IIS. You can run your applications on localhost once the program is effectively implemented. Moreover, you must develop server software coupled with port 49342 to arrange communication between services and apps. This will cause the gadget to start picking up the incoming connections. Furthermore, you may also implement the necessary changes in the service's configuration file. Establish the field paths afterward and get your server access to the right. To complete the assignment, you must build the correct folders to save your site and apps. Visit your website at 127.0.0.1:49342 to confirm your server setup next-wise. It should all be in order, and your computer should show your website or application running without problems. Finally, you could want to build and oversee virtualized machines using the Docker or Virtual Box tools. Conclusion You have it right now! Although, at first look, 127.0.0.1:49342 seems mysterious, it is a valuable tool for developers and anybody wishing to play about with their computer's network. Understanding its elements and possible applications will help you to maximize it while considering security. FAQs While talking about networking, how crucial is crypto code 127.0.0.1:49342? Although we are talking about networking, local communication depends on this crypto code; therefore, it is essential to address this issue. It lets programs on one device interact safely without outside network connections. In what ways might port 49342 enhance communication? Port 49342 improves device inter-app contact. It fixing technological problems. Tools for debugging can also be helpful if issues continue even after port change. For testing and development, is 127.0.0.1:49342 safe? It is indeed safe for testing and development. It offers correct security mechanisms to stop illegal access. Read the full article

[thespacebetweenworlds]

Wattpad's Ban on Writing Underage Sex

Welcome to the post. First, let's get out of the way why I, a tumblr and ao3 user, care about Wattpad and why I think you should, too.

Wattpad has 2 major reasons why it is awesome. Language and accessibility. It's available and fully functional in 18 different display languages, and supports stories in even more languages. Without any knowledge of English, Wattpad is accessible and fully functional, even designed for use on a cellphone. There is no need for a browser, or a PC to store word files, or google docs. Wattpad allows users to draft and save ideas directly in the app. It is no suprise that the majority of Wattpad users are teenagers all around the world, who may not have access to a PC or laptop, who may not speak English and would have a much more difficult time writing on AO3, FFN, fictionpress, etc.

In recent years Wattpad has increased third party advertisements and added paid stories. In recent years Wattpad has also published and helped publish multiple young female writers globally. Wattpad is capitalist and for-profit, but that doesn't change that it has given voice, money and careers to its users. About 70% of Wattpad users are female, and most of us are millenials and gen z. As of september 2020, Wattpad had 90 million monthly users.

In 2024, Wattpad has changed their content guidelines, clarifying that while sexual content - the written, creative kind - is allowed, it is no longer allowed to be about characters under the age of 18. According to Canadian law, the age of consent is 18, so smut between fictional teens is no longer allowed. (An AI bot is going through Wattpad and randomly deletes works). Only weeks later, Wattpad has discontinued direct messaging between users, which caused a larger protest in the userbase.

Now here's my thesis:

Teenagers/under 18 year olds have sex, read about sex, and write about sex.

That's normal. It is the task of the adults in their life, be it parent, teacher, or social institution, to teach children about consent, safe sex, protection, and STDs. Disallowing, deleting and banning short stories, books, and other prose depicting sexual content is like preaching abstince: harmful.

The age requirement to create a Wattpad account is 13. Wattpad users who make an account are thus at least 13 years of age, and capable of reading. It's not an imposition to assume that users will be able to understand the meaning of a "mature" rating, and act according to their own wants and comforts.

What I mean to say it that saying "minors aren't allowed to read or write smut" is a nonsensical, puritanical, conservative statement. It is also wrong. By using it, you infantilise teenagers, you take away their agency, you say they're too young to know anything. When instead you should listen to them, and learn. Content ratings, tags, descriptions and warnings are important. It's also important that readers and writers can choose for themselves what content to engage with.

But Wattpad is a global community. Local laws hold power over online websites and apps. The age of consent, internet regulations for children, and youth protections are different in different countries; the definitions of words like "minor" and "adult" aren't universal. Now Wattpad is enforcing Canadian law. Wattpad is owned by the South Korean company Naver. Wattpad could decide to abide by different national laws at any time. What do we do when Wattpad announces that if characters have sex, they need to be married? What do we do when Wattpad announces that queer stories are now illegal? What do we do when Wattpad bans all sexual content?

Wattpad has always been a home to teenage writers. It has given creative voice to a generation and inspired millions of young people to write and read. With Wattpad's options for multimedia storytelling, it is challenging old ideas of literature. Wattpad may be host to some shitty works, but it is also host to astounding and profound works. That is true for every place where you find this much art.

Wattpad declared that with this new content guideline, this ban on fictional underage sex, they're building a safe space. Bullshit. If Wattpad wanted to do that, they would provide quality sex education on the website in all supported languages. Whatever Wattpad thinks it's doing, it's not protecting youth. It's discimination based on age, and censorship.

I don't know how to end this post. Maybe by saying that freedom of press is important. Maybe by saying that banning books isn't helpful. Maybe by reminding everyone that reading or writing smut is not shameful, never shameful. It can be empowering. It can be catharsis.

[primetimesnow]

Games Unblocked: Exploring the World of Accessible Online Gaming

In today’s digitally interconnected world, the desire to play games online has become a ubiquitous part of daily life for many. However, various restrictions, such as school or workplace firewalls, can hinder access to these entertaining diversions. This has led to a rise in the popularity of "unblocked games" – games that can bypass these restrictions and provide uninterrupted fun. Let’s delve into what makes these games so appealing and how they have shaped the online gaming landscape.

What Are Unblocked Games?

Unblocked games are online games that can be accessed through networks with strict internet usage policies. These games are typically hosted on websites that are not blocked by school or workplace filters. This ensures that students and employees can still enjoy gaming during their free time without facing access restrictions.

The Appeal of Unblocked Games

Accessibility

One of the primary reasons unblocked games have gained popularity is their accessibility. Unlike standard games that may require downloads or specific permissions, unblocked games can be played directly in a web browser. This ease of access makes them a convenient option for quick gaming sessions during breaks.

Variety

Unblocked games cover a vast range of genres and styles. From puzzle games and strategy games to action and adventure titles, there is something for every type of gamer. This variety ensures that players do not get bored and can always find something new and exciting to play.

Educational Benefits

Many unblocked games offer educational value, helping students improve their cognitive skills, problem-solving abilities, and even knowledge in subjects like math and science. Educational games can make learning fun and interactive, providing a productive way to spend free time.

Popular Platforms for Unblocked Games

Several websites have become go-to platforms for unblocked games, offering extensive libraries of games that can be played without restrictions. Some of the most popular platforms include:

Coolmath Games: Known for its educational yet entertaining games, Coolmath Games offers a range of puzzles and logic games that are both fun and beneficial for cognitive development.

Unblocked Games 66: This site features a broad array of games across different genres, ensuring that players of all tastes can find something they enjoy.

Hooda Math: Focused on math-based games, Hooda Math provides a fun way for students to practice math skills while playing engaging games.

Armor Games: Offering a mix of strategy, action, and puzzle games, Armor Games is another popular platform that is often unblocked by school and work filters.

Staying Safe While Playing Unblocked Games

While unblocked games can offer fun and entertainment, it’s essential to ensure that the sites used are safe and secure. Here are some tips to stay safe:

Use Trusted Websites: Stick to well-known and reputable sites to avoid malware and other security risks.

Avoid Sharing Personal Information: Be cautious about sharing personal information on gaming sites, as some may not have stringent privacy measures.

Check for Secure Connections: Ensure the website uses HTTPS to secure your data and protect your privacy.

Conclusion

Unblocked games have carved out a significant niche in the online gaming world, providing accessible, diverse, and often educational entertainment for students and workers alike. By understanding what makes these games appealing and knowing how to stay safe while playing them, gamers can enjoy uninterrupted fun during their free time. Whether you’re looking to pass the time, challenge your brain, or simply have fun, unblocked games offer a perfect solution for your gaming needs.

[govindhtech]

Microsoft Mobile Game Store Rivals Apple & Google play store

Yes, it is correct! This July, Microsoft will make its debut in the mobile game store market. Microsoft studio games like Candy Crush Saga will launch on their own shop. It will be web-based, thus no app is needed. With this move, the company intends to compete with mobile gaming leaders Apples App Store and Google Play Store. Microsoft wants users to join with the promise of more games and cheaper in-game purchases. This follows recent regulatory reforms that enable businesses to avoid the fees imposed by Apple and Google on purchases made through respective app stores.

Microsoft mobile game store Here’s additional information about the opening of Microsoft’s mobile game store:

Date of Launch: July 2024 [Various sources] Platform: Browser-based and web-based [many sources] First Offerings: Titles developed by Microsoft, such as Candy Crush Saga and maybe Call of Duty: Transportable upcoming Plans: Allow other publishers to access the shop [many sources] The goal of the launch was to compete with the Google Play Store and Apple App Store by providing a cheaper option than their respective costs [various sources]. This action follows the Digital Markets Act of the European Union, which permits businesses to establish their own app stores in order to avoid paying fees to Apple and Google. Though its success is still unknown, Microsoft store has the potential to significantly impact the mobile gaming industry. A mobile game store may have the following features

A large selection of games: This is the most important aspect of any gaming business. The store should have several strategic, RPG, puzzle, simulation, and other games. User-friendly interface: The store must be easy to use. Users should easily browse new releases, read reviews, and find games. Secure payment methods: The shop should accept PayPal, debit cards, and credit cards for safe payment. App purchases: Many mobile games let players buy virtual money, power-ups, and characters. It should be simple and safe for customers to make these purchases at the business. Reviews and ratings: Before downloading a game, users ought to be able to read reviews and ratings. This can assist users in choosing games to play with knowledge. Social features: Users can connect with friends and check what games they are playing in certain mobile game store. Finding new games to play and competing with friends can be enjoyable with this. Cloud saves: This feature lets players store their game progress online. This implies that even if users switch devices, they can continue where they left off. Microsoft store mobile games

Parents can limit their kids’ games and features with parental controls. This can help parents ensure their kids play age-appropriate games. Some mobile games can be played offline. This is useful for folks without permanent internet access. Play free games: Many free mobile games store offer in-app purchases. Playing a game this way before buying it is great. Demos: Before downloading a game, consumers can test it out at certain game stores’ demo sections. Pre-registration: Customers can sign up in advance for upcoming games at certain gaming retailers. By doing this, you may let them know when the game is out. Customer service: In the event that customers run into any issues, the store ought to provide customer service. Mobile game stores primarily fall into two categories Authorized Retailers: These are run by the operating system developer of your phone and come pre-installed. Play Store is the official Android app store: There are thousands of premium, free, and freemium games with in-app purchases. Downloads require a Google account. App Store is the official iPad and iPhone app store: Like Google Play, it offers free, premium, and freemium games. Any download requires an Apple ID. Independent businesses not directly tied to a phone’s OS are called third-party stores.

Game store mobile app Popular third-party app store for Android smartphones is called Aptiode. provides a greater assortment of programmes than the Google Play Store, some of which might not adhere to Google’s publishing standards. There’s a greater chance of infection when downloading from third-party retailers, so proceed with caution.

The scene for is getting more competitive as Microsoft joins the fray with well-known heavyweights like Apple and Google. Gamers may profit from this rivalry by having access to a greater selection of games, possibly at a reduced price, and increased innovation in the stores.

In addition, Microsoft’s web-based strategy might provide greater accessibility and flexibility than conventional app store downloads. When July rolls around, it will be interesting to watch how this affects the market and what new options gamers have.

Game store mobile app Development Game store mobile app will determine how much it will cost to construct a mobile gaming shop.

Development costs include hiring designers, programmers, and testers to build the business. This can cost tens of thousands of dollars for a basic store or millions for a complex one with many features. Infrastructure costs include servers and other business-related equipment and software. How many users you expect may influence this. App store fees: Google and Apple charge for app store listings. These fees may take up 30% of in-app purchase revenue. Microsoft mobile game store pricing The following extra variables may also have an impact on the price of creating a mobile gaming store.

A mobile game store might cost $50,000 to $1 million or more to create. The store’s complexity and size: Obviously, developing a larger, more feature-rich store will be more expensive than developing a smaller, less feature-rich one. Location of the development team: Developers in more expensive nations will demand a premium over developers in less expensive nations. Experience of the development team: More seasoned developers will bill more than less seasoned developers. Microsoft mobile game store Release date

Microsoft plans to open its mobile gaming shop on the web in July 2024.

Read more on Govindhtech.com

[facebook-downloader]

FB Downloader - Download Video Facebook HD 1080p, 4k

In the era of social media dominance, Facebook stands tall as one of the most influential platforms for connecting people worldwide. It's a hub for sharing memories, opinions, and moments that matter. Among the myriad of content exchanged on Facebook, videos hold a special place. Whether it's a heartwarming clip of a family reunion or a hilarious meme, these videos evoke emotions and entertain millions every day. However, what if you stumble upon a video that you want to save for later viewing or share with friends outside of Facebook? That's where the need to Download Facebook Videos arises. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the various methods and tools available to accomplish this task effortlessly.

Why Download Facebook Videos?

Before delving into the how, let's address the why. There are several reasons why someone might want to download videos from Facebook:

Offline Viewing: Accessing videos without an internet connection is one of the primary motivations for downloading Facebook videos. This is particularly useful for those with limited data plans or for viewing content during travel.

Sharing: While Facebook offers easy sharing options within its platform, downloading videos allows users to share content across other social media platforms or messaging apps with ease.

Archiving: Some videos hold sentimental value, and users may want to archive them for future reminiscence. Downloading ensures that these videos are preserved even if they are removed from Facebook.

Methods to Download Facebook Videos

1. Using Online Tools:

Online tools provide a quick and hassle-free way to download Facebook videos. Websites like "Getfvid," "SaveFrom.net," and "Facebook Video Downloader" offer simple interfaces where users can paste the video URL and download the content in various formats and qualities.

2. Browser Extensions:

Several browser extensions are designed specifically for downloading videos from social media platforms, including Facebook. Extensions like "Video Downloader Plus" for Chrome or "Video Downloader for Facebook" for Firefox integrate seamlessly into the browser, allowing users to download videos directly from their Facebook feed.

3. Third-Party Apps:

For mobile users, third-party apps can be a convenient option. Apps like "Friendly for Facebook" (available for both iOS and Android) not only allow users to download videos from Facebook but also offer additional features like ad-blocking and customizable themes.

4. Manual Method (For Advanced Users):

For those who prefer more control or are wary of third-party tools, downloading Facebook videos manually is also possible. This involves inspecting the webpage, locating the video file, and downloading it directly. While this method requires some technical know-how, it ensures complete control over the process and eliminates the need for additional software.

Tips for Downloading Facebook Videos Responsibly

While downloading Facebook videos can be convenient, it's essential to do so responsibly and ethically. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Respect Copyright: Always ensure that you have the right to download and share the video. Respect the original creator's rights and permissions.

Don't Modify Content: Avoid editing or altering downloaded videos in a way that misrepresents the original context or message.

Be Mindful of Privacy: If the video contains private or sensitive information, refrain from downloading or sharing it without proper consent.

Use Trusted Sources: When using online tools or third-party apps, ensure they are reputable and trustworthy to avoid malware or privacy risks.

Source: https://fbdown.net.in/

Conclusion

Downloading Facebook videos opens up a world of possibilities, from offline viewing to seamless sharing across various platforms. With a plethora of tools and methods available, users can choose the option that best suits their preferences and needs. However, it's crucial to approach this process responsibly, respecting copyright and privacy concerns. By following the tips outlined in this guide, users can enjoy the convenience of downloading Facebook videos while maintaining ethical standards. So, the next time you come across a captivating video on Facebook, feel empowered to download and enjoy it on your own terms!

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Netflix VPN block

Title: Understanding the Netflix VPN Block: What You Need to Know

In recent years, the use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to access geo-restricted content on streaming platforms like Netflix has become increasingly popular. However, many users have encountered a significant hurdle in the form of the Netflix VPN block. This block prevents VPN users from accessing content that is not available in their region, leading to frustration and disappointment for subscribers.

So, what exactly is the Netflix VPN block, and why does it exist? Essentially, Netflix employs sophisticated technology to detect and block VPN traffic on its platform. This is done to enforce copyright and licensing agreements with content providers, as well as to comply with regional broadcasting regulations. When Netflix detects that a user is accessing its service through a VPN, it redirects them to the local version of the platform, where content availability may differ.

The Netflix VPN block poses challenges for users who rely on VPNs for privacy, security, or to access content that is not available in their region. While some VPN providers continuously work to bypass these restrictions by regularly updating their server infrastructure and IP addresses, Netflix is also vigilant in identifying and blocking VPN traffic.

For users, navigating the Netflix VPN block requires finding a VPN provider with a track record of effectively bypassing these restrictions. Additionally, users may need to experiment with different servers and VPN protocols to find one that works consistently with Netflix.

Ultimately, while the Netflix VPN block presents obstacles for users seeking unrestricted access to content, it underscores the ongoing battle between streaming platforms and VPN providers. As technology evolves, so too will the strategies employed by both sides in this ongoing cat-and-mouse game.

VPN not working with Netflix

Are you facing issues with your VPN not working with Netflix? Many users rely on VPN services to bypass geo-blocks and access a wider range of content on Netflix. However, if you are experiencing difficulties streaming Netflix while connected to your VPN, several factors could be causing this problem.

One common reason for a VPN not working with Netflix is that the streaming service has detected the VPN connection and blocked access. Netflix actively blocks IP addresses associated with VPN servers to enforce regional restrictions on its content. In response, VPN providers continually update their servers and IP addresses to try to evade detection by Netflix.

Another possible cause of your VPN not working with Netflix is related to your VPN protocol or server location. Some VPN protocols are more likely to be detected by streaming services like Netflix, so switching to a different protocol within your VPN settings could potentially solve the issue. Additionally, selecting a server location that is closer to your actual location may help improve your connection speed and prevent detection by Netflix.

It's essential to ensure that your VPN software is up to date, as outdated versions may not be equipped to bypass Netflix's detection mechanisms. Additionally, clearing your browser's cache and cookies or trying a different web browser could potentially resolve compatibility issues between the VPN and Netflix.

In conclusion, if your VPN is not working with Netflix, try switching VPN protocols, selecting a different server location, updating your VPN software, and clearing your browser's cache. By troubleshooting these factors, you may be able to successfully stream Netflix content through your VPN connection.

Bypass Netflix VPN detection

Netflix has become the leading streaming platform globally, offering a vast library of movies, TV shows, and documentaries. However, due to licensing agreements, the available content varies from country to country. This has led many users to resort to Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to bypass these geo-restrictions and access a wider range of content.

Netflix has implemented sophisticated VPN detection technology to prevent users from circumventing these restrictions. When a user connects to Netflix through a VPN, the platform can detect this and block access to content, displaying an error message instead.

To bypass Netflix's VPN detection, there are a few strategies that users can employ. One effective method is to use reputable VPN providers that regularly update their servers' IP addresses to avoid detection. Users can also try connecting to servers in countries where the content they want to access is available.

Another technique is to disable IPv6 on your device, as Netflix primarily uses IPv4 addresses for its content. Additionally, clearing your browser's cookies and cache before accessing Netflix can help avoid detection.

It is essential to note that while using a VPN to bypass geo-restrictions violates Netflix's terms of service, the platform does not actively ban users for this. However, Netflix continues to enhance its detection technology to prevent VPN usage, so users should be aware of potential limitations in the future.

Troubleshoot Netflix VPN issues

If you are experiencing issues with using a VPN to access Netflix, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take to resolve the issue and continue enjoying your favorite shows and movies.

First, make sure that your VPN service is up to date. VPN providers often update their software to keep up with Netflix's efforts to block VPN access. By ensuring you are using the latest version of your VPN service, you increase the chances of successfully bypassing Netflix's restrictions.

Additionally, try switching to a different VPN server. Sometimes, certain servers may be blacklisted by Netflix, preventing access to the streaming platform. By connecting to a different server location, you may be able to bypass the block and access Netflix content.

Another step you can take is to clear your browser's cache and cookies. Sometimes, stored data in your browser can interfere with the VPN connection, leading to issues with accessing Netflix. By clearing your browser's cache and cookies, you can eliminate any potential conflicts and improve the VPN connection.

If the issue persists, consider reaching out to your VPN provider's customer support for assistance. They may be able to provide specific troubleshooting steps based on the VPN service you are using.

By following these troubleshooting tips, you can increase the likelihood of successfully using a VPN to access Netflix and enjoy streaming your favorite content without interruptions.

VPN compatibility with Netflix

Title: Ensuring VPN Compatibility with Netflix: A Comprehensive Guide

In an era where online streaming has become the primary mode of entertainment for millions worldwide, ensuring VPN compatibility with Netflix has become paramount. As Netflix expands its library and strengthens its regional restrictions, many users turn to VPNs to bypass these limitations and access a broader range of content. However, not all VPNs are created equal, and compatibility issues can arise, causing frustration for subscribers.

Netflix employs sophisticated technologies to detect and block VPN usage, primarily to enforce licensing agreements and regional restrictions. Therefore, selecting the right VPN service is crucial for seamless streaming experiences. The key factors to consider when assessing VPN compatibility with Netflix include:

Server Coverage: A VPN with a vast network of servers across multiple countries increases the likelihood of accessing Netflix content from various regions.

Streaming Speeds: High-speed servers are essential for uninterrupted streaming in HD or 4K quality. VPNs with dedicated streaming servers often prioritize speed and stability.

Unblocking Capabilities: Netflix continually updates its blocking mechanisms, so opt for VPNs with proven track records of consistently bypassing these restrictions.

Device Compatibility: Ensure that the VPN supports all your devices, including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and gaming consoles, for a seamless streaming experience across platforms.

Customer Support: Responsive customer support can be invaluable in troubleshooting any compatibility issues or addressing concerns promptly.

Before subscribing to a VPN service, it's advisable to research user reviews, consult with customer support, and take advantage of free trial periods to test compatibility with Netflix. Additionally, periodically check for updates or recommendations from reputable sources to stay informed about the latest developments in VPN technology and Netflix's blocking tactics.

By prioritizing compatibility and selecting a reliable VPN provider, users can enjoy unrestricted access to Netflix's extensive library of movies and TV shows from anywhere in the world.

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Firefox VPN privacy

When it comes to ensuring your online privacy and security, using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a powerful tool. Firefox, one of the most popular web browsers globally, offers a VPN service to enhance users' online privacy protection. This Firefox VPN service encrypts your internet connection, making it harder for third parties to monitor your online activities.

By utilizing the Firefox VPN, you can browse the web anonymously, preventing websites from tracking your browsing behavior and targeting you with personalized ads. Additionally, the encrypted connection provided by the VPN protects your data from cybercriminals who may try to intercept your sensitive information, such as passwords or financial details.

Firefox VPN operates on a strict no-logs policy, meaning that it does not store any information about your online activities while using the service. This further enhances your privacy by ensuring that your browsing history remains confidential and cannot be accessed by anyone.

Moreover, with Firefox VPN, you can access geo-restricted content by connecting to servers from different regions globally. This feature allows you to enjoy content that may be restricted in your location, such as streaming services or websites.

In conclusion, Firefox VPN is a reliable solution for safeguarding your online privacy and security. By encrypting your internet connection, ensuring a strict no-logs policy, and allowing access to geo-restricted content, Firefox VPN empowers users to browse the web safely and anonymously.

Website tracking detection

Website tracking detection refers to the methods and tools used to identify and analyze the various tracking mechanisms employed by websites to monitor user behavior. In an era where online privacy is a growing concern, understanding and detecting these tracking techniques has become essential for internet users who seek to safeguard their personal information.

One common form of website tracking is through the use of cookies, small pieces of data stored on a user's browser that track their activity across different sites. While cookies can serve legitimate purposes such as remembering login credentials or preferences, they are also frequently utilized for targeted advertising and user profiling. Users can detect and manage cookies through their browser settings, often by clearing cookies regularly or using browser extensions that block or restrict their usage.

Another prevalent tracking method is through pixel tags or web beacons, which are tiny, invisible images embedded within web pages or emails. These pixels allow third parties to monitor user interactions, such as email opens or website visits, and gather data for analytics or advertising purposes. To detect pixel tracking, users can employ browser extensions or plugins that block these elements from loading, thereby preventing them from transmitting data back to the tracking entity.

Furthermore, some websites utilize more advanced tracking techniques, such as browser fingerprinting, which involves collecting data points from a user's browser configuration to create a unique identifier for that individual. Detecting and mitigating browser fingerprinting often requires specialized tools or techniques, such as using privacy-focused browsers or employing script blockers to prevent the execution of tracking scripts.

In conclusion, website tracking detection is crucial for maintaining online privacy and security in an increasingly interconnected digital landscape. By understanding the various tracking methods employed by websites and utilizing appropriate detection tools and strategies, users can take proactive measures to protect their personal information and maintain control over their online experiences.

VPN data leakage

Data leakage is a serious concern when it comes to using VPN services. Even though VPNs are primarily known for providing security and privacy by encrypting users' internet traffic, there have been instances of data leakage that compromise user information.

VPN data leakage occurs when sensitive user data leaks outside the encrypted VPN tunnel, exposing it to potential threats. There are different types of VPN data leakage, such as DNS leaks, WebRTC leaks, and IPv6 leaks. These leaks can occur due to misconfigurations in the VPN software or the user's device settings.

DNS leaks happen when the domain name system requests bypass the VPN tunnel and are sent to the user's internet service provider's DNS servers. This can reveal the websites the user is visiting, defeating the purpose of using a VPN for anonymity.

WebRTC leaks can expose users' true IP addresses even when connected to a VPN, allowing websites to determine their actual locations. IPv6 leaks occur when websites and services continue to access the internet using IPv6, bypassing the VPN's IPv4 tunnel.

To prevent VPN data leakage, users can employ leak protection features offered by some VPN providers or manually configure their devices to disable IPv6 and WebRTC. Regularly testing for leaks using online tools can also help users identify and address any vulnerabilities in their VPN connections.

By staying informed about the risks of VPN data leakage and taking proactive measures to mitigate them, users can ensure that their online activities remain private and secure while using VPN services.

Browser privacy features

Browser privacy features are becoming increasingly important as users become more aware of the potential risks associated with online activities. From tracking cookies to data breaches, internet users are seeking ways to protect their privacy while browsing the web. Fortunately, many modern browsers offer built-in features designed to enhance privacy and security.

One of the most common privacy features found in browsers is the option to block third-party cookies. These cookies are often used by advertisers and other third-party entities to track users across different websites, but blocking them can help prevent unauthorized tracking and profiling.

Another important privacy feature is the ability to browse in incognito or private mode. When using this mode, the browser does not store browsing history, cookies, or other data, providing users with a higher level of privacy while online.

Many browsers also offer options for blocking or disabling tracking scripts and other forms of online tracking. These features can help prevent websites from collecting data about users' browsing habits without their consent.

In addition to these privacy features, some browsers also include built-in tools for blocking malware, phishing attempts, and other security threats. These features can help protect users from malicious websites and other online dangers.

Overall, browser privacy features play a crucial role in helping users protect their personal information and maintain their privacy while browsing the web. By taking advantage of these features, users can enjoy a safer and more secure online experience.

VPN browsing logs

VPN browsing logs are a crucial aspect of understanding how Virtual Private Networks operate and ensure user privacy and security. When using a VPN service, all of your online activities are encrypted and routed through a secure VPN server, thus masking your real IP address and providing anonymity while browsing the internet. However, it is essential to be aware of how VPN providers handle browsing logs.

VPN browsing logs refer to the records that VPN companies keep of users' online activities while connected to their servers. These logs may include information such as the websites visited, files downloaded, duration of the connection, and the user's IP address before being masked by the VPN server. It is important to note that not all VPN providers log user activities, and those who do may differ in terms of what information they collect and store.

The main purpose of VPN browsing logs is to monitor and optimize network performance, troubleshoot technical issues, and prevent abuse of the service. However, the retention of browsing logs raises concerns regarding user privacy and data security. In some cases, VPN providers may be compelled to hand over user data to authorities or third parties due to legal requirements or court orders, compromising the very reason users opt for VPN services - privacy protection.

To ensure maximum privacy and anonymity while using a VPN, it is advisable to choose a provider that has a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not monitor, collect, or store any information about users' online activities. Reading the VPN provider's privacy policy and terms of service is essential to understand how they handle browsing logs and what data retention practices they employ. Ultimately, selecting a trustworthy VPN service with a reliable approach to browsing logs is vital for safeguarding your online privacy and security.